Parenteral solution equipment



Oct. 7, 1958 T; H. GEWECKE ETAL 2,855,131

PARENTERAL SOLUTION EQUIPMENT Filed May 9, 1956 "Whoa ore IV- Gew c/re,

crus E. Bromdn fliizzarmler Kim Dalian INVENTORJ.

BY lm 3-. My

United States Patent PARENTERAL SOLUTION EQUIPMENT Theodore H. Gewecke, Glenview, Cyrus R. Broman, Evanston, and Alexander 0. Kompelien, Palatine, 121., assignors to Baxter Laboratories, Inc.

Application May 9, 1956, Serial No. 583,720

Claims. (Cl. 222-545) This invention relates to parenteral solution equipment and, more particularly, to a spout-equipped dispensing container having a tamperproof closure.

1 In the field of parenteral therapy it is often necessary to fortify or supplement a given solution such as glucose or saline with a medicine indicated in the treatment of a given patient. Such would be the'case where specific vitamins are added to a bulk solution, or where anesthetic agents are incorporated therein just prior to surgery. Since it is mandatory that the solution and its administration be of a sterile nature, it is also important that the fortification of the solution, as indicated above, be also carried out under sterile conditions. Even though the additive medicine used to fortify a parenteral solution is, in itself, sterile when prepared, it may become unsterile if it is not fitted with a tamperproof closure.

To provide a tamperproof closure for a dispensing vial used to fortify a parenteral solution, we have devised a structure including a protector stocking provided with an annular flange. The annular flange is provided integral with the stocking and is positioned adjacent the open end thereof. Means are provided on the spout-equipped vial for clamping this flange in an unreinsertable relation to such means.

Our invention will be explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a spout-equipped additive vial provided with the closure of our invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vial shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a spout-equipped additive vial from which the closure has been removed, the vial spout being inserted into the stopper of a parenteral solution bottle; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the stocking of our invention after removal from the closure portion of the vial.

Referring now to the drawing and, in particular Fig. l, the numeral generally designates a glass vial or bottle having an internal volume of the order of ml. Charged within vial 10 is sterile medicine 11. As pointed out above, medicine 11 may be any agent considered useful in fortifying a parenteral solution. An anesthetic so provided is succinylcholine chloride, which in small dosages has been found useful as a skeletal muscle relaxant.

Referring now to Fig. 2, wherein like numerals to those used in Fig. 1 are employed, the numeral 12 generally designates the closure for the mouth 13 of vial 10. Closure 12 includes a resilient dome-shaped cap 14 which is described in co-owned, co-pending application Serial No. 543,129, filed October 27, 1955. Cap 14 is provided with an integral depending annular flange 15 useful in positioning it within mouth 13 of vial 10. Cap 14 is also provided with an outwardly extending bead-equipped flange 16 which also operates to maintain cap 14 over the mouth of vial 10. Integral with and extending upwardly from the domed portion of.cap 14 is spout socket 17.

Mounted in the spout socket 17 of cap 14 is tubular spout 18. Spout 18 is removable from socket 17 only with extreme difliculty, not only because of the press fit Patented Oct. 7, 1958 engagement with socket 17, but also because of the provision of threads 18a on the portion of spout 18 received within socket 17.

Intermediate the ends of spout 18 is provided an annular flange 18b. The end of spout 18 opposite the end received in socket 17 is provided with a tapered point as at 180.

In operation, when medicine 11 is desired to be introduced into a parenteral solution bottle, vial 10 is held mouth downwardly by grasping it and flange 18b, the latter being achieved by the use of the thumb and forefinger. With a firm grasp, the spout is plunged through the rupturable diaphragm associated with the stopper of a parenteral solution bottle, the tapered point 180. facilitating the rupture. The resulting combination is seen in Fig. 3. Then, in the case medicine 11 is a liquid, the same can be transferred to the parenteral solution bottle by removing vial 10 in a reciprocating fashion, thereby flexing cap 14 and pumping medicine 11 into the parenteral solution bottle.

In the embodiment of our invention shown in Figs 1 and 2, flange 18b of spout 18 is provided with an integral boss-like element 18d on the side adjacent tapered point 18c. Mounted over the portion of spout 18 outward of boss-like element 18d is protector stocking 19. Stocking 19 is constructed of a resilient flexible material, such as rubber, and is essentially tubular in nature, having one end closed. Adjacent the open end stocking 19 is provided an integral flange 19a. Stocking 19 is press mounted on spout 18 with stocking flange 19a bearing against boss-like element 18d. Maintaining flange 19a in such relationis collar element 20, which is provided with inwardly extending shoulders 20a and 20b, shoulder 20b underlying flange 18b and shoulder 20a overlying flange 19a. Collar 20 is substantially rigid, being constructed by metal or celloseal so that upon removal of flange 19a from its position between shoulder 20a and boss-like element 18d, it is virtually impossible to be reinserted therebetween.

It is to be noted that not only does stocking 19 provide a tamperproof closure, but also one capable of maintaining the medicine 11 in a sterile condition. A seal against contamination is provided first by the press fit of the interior of stocking 19 with the periphery of spout 18 and, second, by the clamping of flange 19a.

In the depicted embodiment of our invention, stocking 19 is of such a length as to have the inward side of its closed end spaced from tapered point as at 19b. Thus, the portion of stocking 19 designated 19b presents a structure easily graspable between the thumb and forefinger to pull off stocking 19. Aiding in easy removal is the configuration of collar 20 wherein the inwardly extending shoulder 20a which overlies flange 19a is angled upwardly.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for purposes of clearness only and no unnecessary limitation is to be inferred therefrom.

We claim:

1. A medicine dispensing container equipped with a dispensing spout and having tamperproof closure therefor comprising a container, a flange-equipped spout closing the mouth of said container, a protector stocking having an open end and a closed end and mounted on said spout and provided with an annular flange adjacent its open end, said stocking flange overlying said spout flange, and rigid collar means associated with said spout equipped container, said collar means provided with an internal shoulder, said shoulder overlying said stocking flange.

2. A dispensing container adapted to add a medicine to a parenteral solution bottle comprising a vial, a flangeequipped spout closing the mouth of said vial, a flexible resilient protector stocking mounted on said spout, said protector stocking having an integral flange adjacent its open end, a collar associated with said vial and provided with an inwardly extending shoulder overlying said stocking flange whereby said stocking flange is unreinsertably maintained between said collar shoulder and said spout flange to provide a tamperproof closure for said vial.

3. A dispensing container adapted to add a sterile medicine to a parenteral solution bottle comprising a vial, a flange-equipped tubular spout closing the mouth of said vial, a flexible resilient protector stocking press mounted on said spout, to provide a seal against contamination of said sterile medicine, said protector stocking having an integral flange adjacent to its open end, a collar associated with said container and provided with an inwardly extending shoulder overlying said stocking flange whereby said stocking flange is unreinsertably clamped between said collar shoulder and said spout flange to provide an additional seal against contamination of said sterile medicine.

4. A dispensing container of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein the closed end of said flexible resilient protector stocking is spaced from the end of said spout, whereby the portion of said stocking outward of said spout end provides a convenient finger graspable means for removing said stocking.

5. A dispensing container adapted to add medicine to a parenteral solution bottle, comprising a via], an elongated puncturing spout closing the mouth of said vial, an elongated tubular member having a closed end and an open end, said tubular member being mounted on said spout and having an annular flange adjacent its open end, said spout having laterally-extending flange means whereby the flange of said tubular member is adapted to overlie the flange means of said spout, and a collar associated with the said vial and provided with an inwardly-extend-' ing shoulder overlying the flange of said tubular member, whereby said tubular member flange is unreinsertably maintained between said collar shoulder and the flange means of said spout to provide a tamperproof closure for said vial.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 713,921 Rodiger Nov. 18, 1902 877,229 Rivas Jan. 21, 1908 1,892,788 Schwartz Ian. 3, 1933 2,098,799 Wilson Nov. 9, 1937 2,743,844 Livingstone May 1, 1956 

